FEATURE : DISASTER RECOVERY & BUSINESS CONTINUITY FEATURE :
It is imperative that all backups are monitored daily and should have zero errors . Restore testing should be performed at recurring intervals to ensure that the most updated data can be retrieved .
Over 493 million ransomware attacks took place last year – a sure sign that such incidents are growing in volume and intensity and now affect every industry sector . and affected over 10 million Australians , highlighting the importance of securing data and knowing how to protect against ransomware demands .
For many organizations , the first instinct is to pay the ransomware fee when attacked , but many do not realise that this does not guarantee that data will be recovered or returned to them .
As the threat landscape continues to evolve , it is imperative that businesses adopt proactive measures and learn how to effectively respond when needed .
In Australia , we have seen brands falling victim to highprofile ransomware attacks from existing bad actors , most notably the data breach with telecommunications company Optus .
Customer information , including identification cards was leaked thanks to unsecured , unencrypted data that was available online . Hackers had requested for a ransom fee and when Optus refused , data was leaked
According to the Veeam 2023 Ransomware Trends report , 80 % of global organizations surveyed paid the ransom to recover data and end an attack , up 4 % compared to 2022 . After payment , only 59 % who forked out money were able to retrieve their data .
Not paying is often part of an organizations ’ security protocol , yet of 80 % who paid , 41 % of these businesses have a “ do not pay ” policy on ransomware .
With the rate and speed that organizations are getting hacked , it is time for organizations to stand strong against hackers and refuse payment . IT leaders can
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